Analyzing the development of a web portal within an education setting - Essay Example

? Analyzing the development of a web portal within an education setting Analyzing the development of a web portal within an education Research proposal 1. Proposed title for the research proposal Analyzing the development of a web portal within an education setting 2. The purpose of the study The Internet has a profound effect on higher learning, and this effect is likely to develop in the current generation (Becker, 2005). Actually, in some aspects the internet is the current generation of instructors just as personal computers were in the previous generation. As a result, "web knowledge” will gradually become an ordinary tool of the exchange, and instructive web sites will develop to regular additions to classroom events (Becker, 2005). One of the improved ways to remain up to date with the development of education is to come up with a learning web site to present learners with the education syllabus and teaching learning resources (Becker, 2005). One benefit of publishing syllabi, as well as other learning resources on the web is that learners have all the time to access the resources (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). In addition, teachers can put review questions on web pages containing information on class assignments, study tips, grading, among others (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). By printing these resources and information on the site, teachers avoid repetition of questions all through the academic period (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). Therefore, this study aims at analyzing the development of a web portal within an education setting (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). Brief relevant background literature A web portal is a very efficient instrument to instruct knowledge concerning science. Individuals connect with each other to create a learning group using web gateways (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). The portal acts as platforms where all the report, resources, and authority in the area of science can be retrieved (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). The portal is available all the time and produces information that assist in the developing of education community as students engage in research, group discussion, exchange interpretations, and conduct actions that encourage learning (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). Documents presented on the portal areas usually updated in libraries available with current research findings. Finally, simulation of real life is also presented to the learners through the web portal (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). A web portal gives information that is assorted in a combined manner. These are sites of information, which developed during 1990s and in 2000 (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). A web portal operates just like an investigator or explore engine, however, this portal has several features or purpose than the search device itself (Becker, 2005). A web portal, provides information a researcher wants to discover or search, as well as certified web portal. Apart from this, it also provides email internet services, entertainment cites to the users (Cappel and Huang, 2007). This portal can be defined as a website that presents reports together from different sources in an even manner. Normally, every information port acquires its dedicated part on for presenting information. Usually the researcher can figure out which presentation is important to search (Palmer, 2002). Web portals can be classified in to group’s horizontal and vertical web portals. The horizontal portal is usually used in several companies as a platform in economic issues or manufacturing issues. The vertical portal is a specific entry point for markets a given subject or a given interests. Therefore, the horizontal portal covers several areas, while the vertical portal covers specific areas (Pang, et al., 2009). The web portal has the following major functions; search, navigate, provides information or manages content, personalization, push technology, management of tasks, conducts the integration of applications and organizes business infrastructure (Pearson and Pearson, 2008). The web portal aims at increasing student interaction. It provides students an opportunity was to interact with their lectures and their fellow students, and be more engaged in their studying (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). It also tends to provide students with learning resources and campus sources from library subject to achieve courses offered online. Through it, the faculty members get accesses to teaching and learning resources. Lectures also use the web to assess their students, record their grades, and communicate the outcome to the students and their colleagues (Preece, Rogers, and Sharp, 2002). The students can use the site to register for their classes, get access to financial assistance, pay their schooling, sign up for programs like lunch programs, and indicate any absences (Adonis, 2006). Through it, the school can create communities that interact online that include the students, administration, faculty members, and alumni to work together (Abdous, 2005). A web portal is an online opening where learners can log into a website to access significant information (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). Portals are normally used in schools and universities where quick information and school bring up to date available information to a big number of learners within the institution. Education departments sometimes use portals to guide students to informative or learning resources for effective learning (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). When the school uses portals as an alternative of printing resources in books saves them production and lecture costs, and it benefits the conditions by using limited resources. The web makes it informal for students to get important facts from the web (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). A web portal usually serves as a school database, where the school administration uploads a lot of information concerning the school, which acts as an online cabinet instead of using the filing system (Cappel and Huang, 2007). Using the search button, the students can search and readily obtain the information uploaded in the school website. This web portal also adds the school credibility and create a positive image when it is updated frequently (Preece, Rogers and Sharp, 2002). Research questions The study will be guided with the following research questions. 1. What are the major steps in developing a web portal? 2. What are the advantages of a web portal within the education context? 3. What are the challenges web developers experiences while developing a web portal? 4. What are the possible solutions that can be used to improve the process of web development? A brief research methodology including ethical issues This study will adopt a mixed design methodology, where the researcher will use both qualitative and quantitative design. Qualitative design is whereby the research mainly uses narrative techniques when analyzing research information. While, quantitative data means that information will be used in numerical terms, where numerical facts will be assigned to the data obtained. Qualitative research will be used during the first stage to explore the characteristics of web portal adapted in the schools and they work. Here the research will collect data using group discussion, observation, questionnaires, and use of structured interviews. The second phase will be analyzed using quantitative data, where the researcher will determine the relationship of students’ performance with the use of web portals. Here the researcher will use experiments to test whether there are relationships between the research variables. Significance of research 1. The findings of this research will help in improving the different web portals used in high schools. 2. Through the findings, most educators will get to understand the importance of web portals as a source in the learning process. 3. The research will provide better understanding on the issues concerning web portals Conclusion The findings from this research will be used as a base for developing web portals within an education context especially in a high school context. The findings will create awareness on the use of web portals in a high school. References Abdous, M. (2005). Designing a faculty portal framework and architecture. In 21st Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning. Retrieved October 17, 2008, from http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference. Adonis, L. A. (2006). Technology in schools. Manager: British Journal of Administrative Management, 52, 14–15. Becker, S.A. (2005). E-government usability for older adults. Communications of the ACM, 48(2), 102–104. Cappel, J., & Huang, Z. (2007). A usability analysis of company websites. The Journal of Computer Information Systems, 48(1), 117–123. Palmer, J. W. (2002). Web site usability, design, and performance metrics. Information Systems Research, 13(2), 151–167. Pang, M.-S., Suh, W., Kim, J., & Lee, H. (2009). A benchmarking-based requirement analysis methodology for improving web sites. International journal of Electronic Commerce, 13(3), 119–162. Pearson, J. M., & Pearson, A. (2008). An exploratory study into determining the relative importance of key criteria in web usability: A multi-criteria approach. The Journal of Computer Information Systems, 48(4), 115–127. Preece, J., Rogers, Y., & Sharp M. (2002). Interaction design, beyond human – computer interaction. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Read More